The NCB appointed an officer to investigate allegations against IPS officer Gyaneshwar Singh. The Mumbai-based journalist withdrew his petition for a CBI probe today(on2nd September), after the appointment.
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MUMBAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has taken a significant step in addressing the allegations made by a Mumbai-based journalist against IPS officer Gyaneshwar Singh by appointing a dedicated officer to investigate the matter. This development prompted the journalist to withdraw his petition today(on 2nd September), which had initially sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the conduct of Singh.
The journalist had raised serious concerns about the actions of IPS officer Gyaneshwar Singh during his tenure, specifically accusing him of improper handling of contraband and engaging in questionable activities while on duty. According to the journalist, his investigations revealed that Singh had allegedly “disposed of certain contraband without adhering to the proper procedures” and had engaged in “certain immoral acts” while on official duty at the government’s expense. These allegations led the journalist to approach the High Court, seeking an independent investigation by the CBI.
Today(on 2nd September), Advocates Niranjan Mundargi and Keral Mehta, who represented the journalist, informed the court that the Chief Vigilance Officer of the NCB, Monika Batra, had been appointed to conduct an internal inquiry into the allegations.
“The journalist has no grievance against her,”
-the advocates stated in court, indicating that the journalist was satisfied with the appointment of Monika Batra as the investigator. As a result, the journalist decided to withdraw his petition seeking a CBI probe.
The petition had previously led to some contentious discussions in the courtroom, particularly regarding the impartiality of the investigation. Mundargi had earlier argued that the initial inquiry was being conducted by an NCB officer who was a subordinate of Singh, raising concerns about potential bias in the investigation.
The bench, led by Justice Revati Mohite-Dere, had echoed these concerns, noting that –
“Singh could not be a judge in his own case”
and had criticized the agency for the manner in which the investigation was being handled.
Justice Revati Mohite-Dere’s observation underscored the importance of an unbiased investigation, highlighting that allowing Singh’s subordinate to lead the inquiry could compromise the integrity of the findings. This criticism likely played a role in the NCB’s decision to appoint Monika Batra, a higher-ranking and independent officer, to take over the investigation.
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After hearing Mundargi’s submission on Monday, the bench permitted the withdrawal of the plea, marking a significant turning point in the case. The appointment of Monika Batra as the investigating officer appears to have alleviated the journalist’s concerns about the fairness of the inquiry, thereby negating the need for a separate CBI investigation.